Nice to hear about your sadharmik bhakti practice. Here’s a brief, clear Jain perspective on this.

• Sadharmik bhakti (devotion toward virtuous beings) is a sattvik attitude that keeps the soul focused on right conduct, self-purification, and alignment with dharma. It involves reverence for the Jain sadhus/monks and for the Tirthankaras, while keeping a spirit of non-attachment and self-discipline.

• The term bhav in Jainology refers to mental states or attitudes. Cultivating the bhav of humility, non-violence, truthfulness, and detachment supports progress on the path. When you practice sadharmik bhakti with the right intention, it should deepen your restraint from sins and strengthen your resolve to follow ahimsa, satya, and aparigraha.

• Regarding “third bhav”: Jain texts describe multiple inner states and stages of spiritual effort, but the exact labeling (such as “third bhav”) can differ between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions and across different suttas or commentaries. If you have a specific text or teacher who uses the term “third bhav,” the precise meaning can vary, so it’s best to check with your guru for that tradition’s definition.

• Practical guidance to continue your progress:

- Maintain reverence without craving personal gain from it; aim for humility and inner purification. - Pair bhakti with ethical discipline: follow ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), and brahmacharya (celibate conduct, where applicable), and practice aparigraha (non-attachment). - Regularly reflect on karmic consequences of thoughts and actions; use contemplation to cultivate equanimity. - Study the teachings of the Tirthankaras and the sadhus, and participate in guided practices (like time-bound samayika or swadhyaya) as prescribed in your tradition.

If you’d like, tell me which Jain tradition you follow (Digambar or Shwetambar) and which text or teacher uses the phrase “third bhav.” I can tailor the explanation to that tradition and give you a more precise meaning.